McGraw-Hill Connect vs. Alta from Knewton, a Wiley brand

If you want a prepackaged option for learning that requires minimal instructor input, comes with no support, and offers a limited number of options as far as a dynamic and engaging learning experience, then this is probably the right option for you. If, on the other hand, you want a product that does a lot of different things, has excellent customer service, dynamically engages and challenges the user in a number of different activities and learning exercises, then, uh, please look elsewhere.

It is appropriate as a learning system and helps your students gain mastery. I would not use it as much for an assessment system, although they have been slowly building up those capabilities.

Incentivized

• Integration with Canvas is seamless and easy to use.
• Assignment completion, for students, is straightforward and easy to use.
• The SmartBook allows students to read as they are tested with questions and this helps them learn the material easily without having first trying to read, memorize a chapter and then answer questions.

Incentivized

• Adaptive learning
• LMS integration
• Focus on meeting learning standards rather than just on grades
• Each student gets different questions so it can reduce cheating
• Explanations are included if students get problems wrong

• Difficult navigation upon sign-in
• Too many choices per chapter - difficult to know which part to select to walk through assignments with students

Incentivized

• I have yet to run into something that Wiley reps did not handle well.

Incentivized

Easy to use

Personally, I did not encounter McGraw-Hill support. However, I worked with colleagues who needed support and were able to receive in a timely manner. Overall, McGraw Hill Connect is user-friendly (at least from teacher interface) and easy to navigate, which minimizes the need to reach out for support. The help button is useful and provides plenty of immediate support.

Incentivized

McGraw-Hill Connect does a great job being user friendly and has relevant tasks and activities for what needs to be taught. Blackboard does a good job being used as a communication and quiz board and Cengage operates based on activities similar to Connect.

Incentivized

alta from Knewton, a Wiley brand, is much less expensive than the other LMSes, not just for the students but for the institution, too.

• Because it did not integrate well with BBlearn and the adaptive quizzing did not function properly, we lost a great deal of time and had to face a large number of student issues. If it had worked well, we may still be using it.

Incentivized

• Higher pass rates.

Incentivized